Alif, Baa, Taa, Thaa: my first letters

Salam! Welcome to your Arabic alphabet course.

Arabic is the language of the Qur'an: Allah sent the Qur'an down in Arabic (12:2). When you know the letters, you will be able to read the words of Allah yourself!

Two things to know: • Arabic has 28 letters. • Arabic is written and read from right to left ←. Your finger starts on the right of the page.

1. ا Alif A simple standing line, like a stick. Example: أَسَد asad, the lion 🦁 (The little sign ء on the alif is called hamza: it helps the alif carry a sound.)

Now, the little boat family! These three letters have the same shape. Only the dots change.

2. ب Baa: one dot below. Example: بَطَّة baṭṭa, the duck 🦆

3. ت Taa: two dots above. Example: تُفَّاح tuffaaḥ, apples 🍎

4. ث Thaa: three dots above. It sounds like the "th" in "think": the tip of your tongue goes between your teeth. Example: ثَعْلَب tha'lab, the fox 🦊

A little trick to remember: ب has 1 dot below, ت has 2 dots above, ث has 3 dots above. 1, 2, 3!

Little activity: with your finger, draw an alif in the air (or in sand, or on paper), then a little boat. Add 1 dot below: it is ب! Then 2 dots above: it is ت!

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Why learn the Arabic alphabet? Because Allah sent the Qur'an down in Arabic: إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا innaa anzalnaahu qur'aanan 'arabiyyaa "We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an." (meaning of part of verse 12:2) Every word of the Qur'an is made with these 28 letters. So learning the letters is the first step to reading the Qur'an. The very first word Allah revealed to the Prophet ﷺ was: "Read!" (96:1). Reading is very important in Islam. Look carefully at the dots: ب, ت and ث have the same shape, but not the same dots. One dot more or less, and it is another letter, so another word!

Lessons to draw from it • Before learning, I say "Bismillah" and I ask Allah: "Rabbi zidnii 'ilmaa", "My Lord, increase me in knowledge" (20:114). • Every letter I learn is a step towards the Qur'an. • I look carefully at small details, like the dots: they matter.

Key points to remember • Arabic has 28 letters and is read from right to left. • ب: 1 dot below; ت: 2 dots above; ث: 3 dots above. • The Qur'an was revealed in Arabic (12:2). The first word revealed is "Read!" (96:1).

The main message Every letter I learn brings me closer to the Qur'an, the words of Allah.